The Washington critic., 1887-01-19


the fact that the Democratic party Is
losing all of its great leaders. That
is true" said Tim. Taking from his
overcoat pocket large white silk
handkerchief, about half the size OF
bed quilt, with which the Japanese
Minister not long ago presented him,
he carefully folded II about his neck,
and buttoning his ovcrcoat around
him, he concluded in very sorrowful
voice, "By George, 1t is time that / was
taking better care Of myself
"a
Last Monday, says j. d. in the
Kansas City journal, l called upon
Mr.. Kimball, chief of the Life Saving
Service, at his Office in the Treasury
building. We were chatting about the
dreadful wreck of the ship Elizabeth
Off the coast of North Carolina, where
so many lives were lost, as well as five
of the men in the service. Said /:
what sort OF winter have we had 50
far?' "Tho worst aud severest ever
known in the history of this bureau
he replied. "There have been more
terrible storms, more disasters and a
greater loss of life than ever before"
The Tribune of New York having ex.
pressed desire to know why the Eng.
lish self righ,ing, self .bailing lifeboats
were not used on this coast in place of
the ordinary lifcboat, | asked Mr.. Kim.
ball for an explanation. lie said:
THE self bailing, self righting Eng.
lish boat is not adapted TO our
circumstances. We do not use
them because we cannot. They weigh
some 4 eco pounds, aud have to be
moved on a truck which weighs 1000
more. 1t takes six horses to haul them
even on the good hard roads of Eng
land. Here we have sandy, flat beaches,
with shallow water, aud, even If we
were able TO get with such a boat to the
waters edge, we could not launch 1t.
The shores of England are abrupt and
| the water Is deep. Besides, all things
| considered, we do not think they pos
| sess any special advantage over our
| life boats. They frequently capsize,
and their crews are often drowned.
Within two months the English have
lost twenty nine men In this way
~
Tic Washington correspondent of
the Boston 1rdeeVor concludes q
sketch of the military services of Gen.
eral Alfred Pleasanton of this city as
| follows: Then came the close OF the
war. and Pleasanton who had served
his country so valiantly and well, found
in 1868, when the army was reorgan.
| izcd, that his relative rank after 2i
years of service was much lower than
that which he had held before the war.
President Grant appointed him com.
missioner of internal revenue, and he
was a most efficient officer. He was
forced out of this position through in.
| fluences which are well understood
here In Washington. Now Alfred
Pleasanton, rs brave an officer as the
war produced, with his mind
undimmed, record which stands
not only without tarnish,
but absolutely beyontl suspicion,
Is here In the capital of the nation,
without means, standing and knocking
at the doors of Congress for the recog.
milton that should have been his score
of years ago. He is without means, but
patiently and sadly he awaits the ar.
rival of single act that will show that
the country appreciates and is thankful
for life spent in her service. There
is no more eloquent spectacle in the
length and breadth of this land than
that of Alfred Plcasanton mutely ap.
pealing to be placed upon the retired
list of the army while brassier but less
worthy men are lauded to the skies and
obtain all that they ask without the
slightest difficulty.